Method and system for consumer healthcare decisionmaking

Abstract

A method and system for healthcare decisionmaking wherein a consumer begins with a diagnosis, is educated on the interpretation of relevant data relating thereto, assess risk, selects and prioritizes search criteria, reviews treatment option results and compares the results based on their preference, or by using statistically valid data derived from consumers like themselves. The method and system presents a structured framework for communicating information that has been personalized and customized to an individual who is a consumer of information about healthcare. The system is a networked, knowledge-based system that assists the consumer in assessing healthcare treatment options for a variety of healthcare conditions, procedures and clinical diagnoses. The system includes a server and a server-driven remote interface through which a series of progressively more personalized presentations of information are achieved by matching a consumer's preferences with those of demographically similar consumers and best practice information obtained from a variety of public and private sources.

1 . A computer-implemented method for providing healthcare information to a healthcare consumer regarding a previously diagnosed health condition, said method comprising:
 electronically receiving input from the healthcare consumer via a communication network, said input identifying the previously diagnosed health condition or a procedure for treating the previously diagnosed health condition;   identifying treatment options for said healthcare consumer by searching through one or more electronic databases storing information about a plurality of health care providers, said identified treatment options comprising a listing of healthcare providers for treating the previously diagnosed condition or performing said procedure;   over the communication network, electronically receiving from the healthcare consumer one or more criteria for selecting a healthcare provider;   ranking the healthcare providers in the listing of healthcare providers according to the one or more criteria from the healthcare consumer; and   over the communication network, electronically communicating to the healthcare consumer the identified treatment options and the rankings of the healthcare providers in the list of healthcare providers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising correlating the identified treatment options with demographic data. 
     
     
         3 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising electronically receiving from the healthcare consumer demographic information about the healthcare consumer, and wherein identifying the treatment options also involves using the demographic information provided by the healthcare consumer to generate the listing of healthcare providers. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identified treatment options include one or more treatment procedures and wherein the method further comprises after identifying the treatment options, electronically communicating to the healthcare consumer information about one or more of the identified treatment options. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising over the communication network, electronically soliciting from the healthcare consumer the one or more criteria for selecting a healthcare provider and wherein receiving from the healthcare consumer one or more criteria for selecting a healthcare provider is in response to soliciting said one or more criteria. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the identified treatment options include one or more treatment procedures and wherein the method further comprises before soliciting the one or more criteria, electronically communicating to the healthcare consumer information about one or more of the identified treatment options. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising over the communication network, electronically soliciting said input from the healthcare consumer and wherein receiving said input is in response to soliciting said input. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein electronically communicating the identified treatment options and the rankings of the healthcare providers is for display to the healthcare consumer through a web browser.